Russian military personnel killed in shelling carried out by terrorists in Syria

Russian servicemen have been killed in shelling carried out by terrorists in Deir ez-Zor province in eastern Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Terrorists attacked Syrian and Russian troops, and the latter was forced to respond, according to the MoD. A total of 43 terrorists were killed in the clashes, and six vehicles were also destroyed, the ministry stated.

Two Russian military advisers were killed on the spot and five more of the country’s servicemen were injured and transported to hospital. Later, two more servicemen succumbed to their injuries.

The Russian air campaign in support of anti-terrorist efforts by the Syrian government lasted from September 2015 to December 2017. Last December, President Vladimir Putin visited Khmeimim Airbase to announce the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country.

Russia played a major role in the defeat of Islamic State, Jabhat Al-Nusra and other terrorist groups in the country. Around 60,000 militants were eliminated during the operation, according to Defense Ministry estimates.